On Sam and Management Technique

Ron Loveless

CEO, Sam's Club, Retired

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Ron Loveless,
Culture,
management

Bentonville native Ron Loveless got his start as a stock boy in one of Sam’s stores in Missouri. Due to his quick wit and merchandising skills, he didn’t stay a stock boy for long. Loveless moved up through the ranks, becoming a department manager, assistant manager, store manager, regional manager, and, lastly, the first CEO of Sam’s Club. After retiring from the company, he went on to write “Walmart Inside Out,” a detailed look his experiences and the lessons he learned during his 22 years with Walmart. In the book, he mentions one of the reasons for his success: he was trusted, trained, and empowered to do his job. Those fundamentals of training are just as important today as they were throughout his storied career.

We wanted to expand, and we realized we weren't generating enough profits both to expand and to pay off our debts . . . [Bud and I] agreed to seriously explore the possibilities of going public. It was a huge step for us.Sam Walton